The structural insulated panel (SIP), a tiered composite
made with an insulating layer of a solid core sandwiched be-
tween structural boards, was manufactured off-site at Green
Mountain Panels in Brattleboro and adds to the high R-val-
ue, energy-efficiency of the home. The rest was built on-site
at the half-acre property that borders woods and an open
field, at the edge of town on a winding picturesque road.
As if 2016 wasn’t busy enough, Erin also co-founded Tiny
House Fest Vermont, whose mission is to host meaningful
community conversations about sustainable, responsible,
and innovative housing and public spaces. The intention is
also to promote education about “right-size housing” and
that there is no one-size-fits-all solution in the aspiration of
good design.
French doors open to the combination living/dining room
and the adjoining kitchen. It’s easy to forget the space is just
300 square feet (actually, that includes the sleeping loft), as
even on the rainy, dreary day I visited the space was light
and airy. Erin mentions that she very much designed and
constructed their abode to be their “forever home” and that
she “paid so much attention to how they move” to maxi-
mize the various areas and their corresponding function-
alities. For example, she designed the angled walls at either
end to circulate people, as she describes it. And it definitely
adds to the spaciousness of the home; in such a small scope,
every single area and function must be thoughtfully and
thoroughly calculated. For Erin, she embraces and pro-
ficiently grasps how to best work with the limited square
footage and storage.
The color palette in the couple’s home is an intentional base
of neutrals with bold splashes of color. White walls through-
out blend seamlessly with light-colored wood; Baltic birch
cabinets and storage systems meld with local maple win-
dowsills and trim that in turn complement the clean, modest
countertops. The deep, wide kitchen sink is fabricated from
composite stone and fiberglass, which handsomely meets
their food prep and cleaning needs. The flooring is a dura-
ble, medium-tone composite cork/vinyl material that runs
the length of the home that ties the spaces together with a
continuous, unbroken look. It all amalgamates to bring a
quality of lightness, which attests to Erin’s ability to execute
an inviting, yet pragmatic, space—beautifully. But not bor-
ing. The plaster walls provide texture, and while the flow is
light and bright—low windowsills bring the outside in, in
a subtle way—there are big statements and earthy touches
of nature. Erin pays tribute to her native Hawaiian roots in
assorted places throughout. The kitchen has an array of the
indigenous rocks, plants, pottery, artwork, and shells from
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88 VERMONT
VERMONT
Magazine
FALL 2019